How about stepping back in time to when Bucharest was finding its identity? Right here stands Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe Nou. It is not just a church. It’s a landmark steeped in history. This Romanian Orthodox church is dedicated to Saint George. It stands proudly where the city center meets the Lipscani area.
Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe Nou is closely tied to Constantin Brâncoveanu. He ruled when it was built. He found his final resting place within its walls. The story of this church is woven into Bucharest’s past.
The ground beneath Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe Nou has held sacred spaces before. Archaeological digs in 1966 found a 15th-century church foundation. It was built in the Byzantine style. River boulders and brick formed its structure. It had a narthex, nave, and altar.
In the early 16th century Ban Dobruş rebuilt the church with brick. This is likely when it was named “New” to distinguish it from the older St. George Church. Over time new buildings were added including an inn.
Prince Antonie Vodă din Popeşti wanted to rebuild the complex in the late 17th century. Dragoman of the Porte, Panagiotis Nikousios, gave the order. Şerban Cantacuzino was appointed Ispravnic. Construction was slow. The project was dedicated to the Jerusalem Patriarchate in 1673 but remained unfinished.
Constantin Brâncoveanu restarted the work. The cells were completed by 1696 and the entire building by 1698. Brâncoveanu demolished the old church in 1705. He built a grand new one. It featured a marble floor. Construction ended the next year.
The consecration in 1707 was a grand event. Brâncoveanu and his court attended. Priests and hierarchs were led by Jerusalem Patriarch Chrysanthus. The complex was dedicated to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
In the 18th century the monastery complex grew. It included a bell tower, patriarchal houses, and warehouses. There were about 200 rooms. A printing press operated here for a while. A chapel was added in 1715. The inn was very important until 1847.
A fire in 1718 caused major damage. Prince John Mavrocordatos led the rebuilding. After his death, Brâncoveanu’s widow, Marica, allowed him to be buried here. The 1802 earthquake destroyed the vaults and domes. The church was rebuilt without domes.
The Wholesalers’ Inn was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1847. The church was repaired between 1851 and 1855. Architect Xavier Villacrosse oversaw the work. Constantin Lecca and Mișu Popp painted the interior. Nicolae Iorga felt this “deformed” the monument.
The 1940 earthquake caused more damage. The bell tower collapsed. Repairs followed. The paintings were restored in 1950. A restoration began in 1968 led by Ștefan Balș. Henrieta Delavrancea participated. The goal was to restore the church’s original look. New interior frescoes began in 1998.
Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe Nou is the largest Brâncovenesc church. It draws inspiration from the Princely Church of St. Nicholas. The portico has seven arches in front and three on each side. They rest on twelve columns. The large narthex has four columns supporting the central dome.
The relics of Brâncoveanu and his family are inside. They were canonized as martyrs in 1992. His name was originally only on a candelabrum. A statue of Brâncoveanu by Oscar Han stands in front of Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe Nou. Next to it is the Kilometer Zero monument.
The story of Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe Nou is one of resilience. It shows faith and artistic vision. It has survived fires, earthquakes, and political changes. Today it stands as a testament to Bucharest’s rich cultural heritage.